Supernatural Support Groups: Who Are the UFO Abductees and Ritual-Abuse Survivors?

This article draws on psychoanalytic theories of malignant trauma to explain the invisibility of ritual abuse. Ritual abuse refers to the misuse of rituals in the organised sexual abuse of children. Despite expanded recognition of the varieties of child maltreatment, ritual abuse remains largely invisible outside the trauma and dissociation field as a specific form of sexual exploitation. Presenting qualitative data from interview research with ritual abuse survivors and mental health specialists, this article argues that the trauma of ritual abuse and its invisibility are co-constitutive. The perpetration and denial of ritual abuse occur within a relational matrix of perpetrators, victims, and bystanders structured by the presymbolic dread of vulnerability and dependency. The simultaneity of perpetration and disavowal creates the conditions for the malignancy of ritual abuse, including the invisibility of victims and the intergenerational transmission of extreme abuse. The article examines how the provision of care to ritual abuse survivors can become contingent on its erasure, and reflects on the role of therapists and others in interrupting the metastases of malignant trauma and crafting cultural and moral frameworks to transform the dread at the core of ritual abuse.

Download Full-text

Group Experiences and Individual Differences in Stuttering

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2019_jslhr-19-00138 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (12) ◽

pp. 4335-4350 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Seth E. Tichenor ◽

J. Scott Yaruss

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Affective States ◽

Life Outcomes ◽

Self Help ◽

Wide Range ◽

Group Experiences ◽

History Of ◽

Adults Who Stutter

Purpose This study explored group experiences and individual differences in the behaviors, thoughts, and feelings perceived by adults who stutter. Respondents' goals when speaking and prior participation in self-help/support groups were used to predict individual differences in reported behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. Method In this study, 502 adults who stutter completed a survey examining their behaviors, thoughts, and feelings in and around moments of stuttering. Data were analyzed to determine distributions of group and individual experiences. Results Speakers reported experiencing a wide range of both overt behaviors (e.g., repetitions) and covert behaviors (e.g., remaining silent, choosing not to speak). Having the goal of not stuttering when speaking was significantly associated with more covert behaviors and more negative cognitive and affective states, whereas a history of self-help/support group participation was significantly associated with a decreased probability of these behaviors and states. Conclusion Data from this survey suggest that participating in self-help/support groups and having a goal of communicating freely (as opposed to trying not to stutter) are associated with less negative life outcomes due to stuttering. Results further indicate that the behaviors, thoughts, and experiences most commonly reported by speakers may not be those that are most readily observed by listeners.

Download Full-text

Stuttering-Related Podcasts: Audio-Based Self-Help for People Who Stutter

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2020_persp-20-00014 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

pp. 1131-1138

Author(s):

Lauren E. Dignazio ◽

Megan M. Kenny ◽

Erik X. Raj ◽

Kyle D. Pelkey

Keyword(s):

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Online Survey ◽

Multiple Choice ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

Group Leaders ◽

Self Help ◽

Group Members

Purpose It is known that people who stutter (PWS) benefit from self-help experiences, such as attending support groups or conferences. However, limited research has been done to explore the listening of stuttering-related podcasts as a form of self-help for PWS. This study seeks to understand the reasons why PWS listen to stuttering-related podcasts and provide descriptions of their listening experiences. Method Thirty-three PWS who have listened to stuttering-related podcasts were recruited to participate in an online survey that included multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Responses were analyzed and grouped into descriptive themes. Results Participants reported listening to stuttering-related podcasts as a way to gain information and perspective. They also reported experiences that fit themes of empowerment and camaraderie, as a result of listening. Conclusions Stuttering-related podcasts seem to be a positive self-help tool for PWS. Stuttering support group leaders and/or speech-language pathologists may consider introducing their group members or clients who stutter to this type of audio-based self-help experience.

Download Full-text